ISTANBUL / Leith al-Junaidi / Anadolu

The Syrian People's Assembly on Sunday elected Abdul Hamid Aqeel al-Awak as its speaker during its first session since the overthrow of the Assad regime, a step signaling the start of a new phase of legislative and institutional work in the country.

Al-Awak received 99 votes out of 205 votes counted, compared to 75 votes for Muayad al-Qabalawi and 31 votes for Muhammad Ramiz Kurj, while a blank ballot was voided, according to Anadolu correspondent.

Al-Awak hails from Hasaka province (northeast) and previously held positions in the judiciary and academia before assuming the chairmanship of the committee drafting the interim constitutional declaration following the recent political transformation in the country.

Earlier on Sunday, the first session of the new People's Assembly (parliament) began in the capital Damascus, a week after its convening date was postponed.

The session began with the presence of Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara, along with a number of ministers and officials, according to Anadolu correspondent.

The session witnessed the attendance of 206 members out of 210, with three members from Suwayda province (south) absent, in addition to Idlib province (northwest) member Muhammad Kalthoum, who died in mid-June last year from a heart attack.

The members took the constitutional oath before al-Shara, before proceeding to elect the speaker of the council, with the session to continue by electing members of the presidential bureau.

Three seats remained vacant for Suwayda, amid the security situation in the province and what Syrian authorities describe as violations committed by the militia of Hikmat al-Hijri, one of the Druze community's spiritual leaders in the country.

In contrast, the supplementary third appointed by President al-Shara included representatives from the province, namely Laith al-Bal'ous and Subh al-Baddah, to ensure its representation in the council, while its legal right to fill the vacant seats later remains.

The convening of the first session of the People's Assembly comes days after the completion of its formation, following Syrian President's issuance of Decree No. 143 of 2026, which includes the names of all members, including those of the supplementary third he appointed.

The Supreme Committee for People's Assembly Elections had announced on July 5 of this month the postponement of the first session, which was scheduled for the following day, to a later date without stating the reasons for the delay.

The new People's Assembly consists of 210 members, 140 of whom were elected by electoral bodies in Syrian provinces, while the president appointed 70 members forming the supplementary third, in accordance with the provisions of the interim electoral system.

The formation of the council comes within the framework of the state institution rebuilding process, following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime on December 8, 2024, which ruled the country for more than two decades between 2000 and 2024.